U.S. patent number 4,479,573 [Application Number 06/463,972] was granted by the patent office on 1984-10-30 for gauging assembly for capsule orienting and turning apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to R. W. Hartnett Company. Invention is credited to Charles E. Ackley, Jr., Charles E. Ackley, Sr..
United States Patent |
4,479,573 |
Ackley, Sr. , et
al. |
* October 30, 1984 |
Gauging assembly for capsule orienting and turning apparatus
Abstract
An improved gauging assembly for a capsule orienting and turning
apparatus is disclosed. Many capsules are picked up in a rotary
conveyor which arranges them first in an upright arrangement
relative to the path of movement of the conveyor, some capsules
arranged caps-up and some bodies-up. The gauging assembly
cooperates with air jets to tilt the body portions of the bodies-up
capsules in the machine direction while retaining the caps-up
capsules subsequently untilted so that all the cap portions can
subsequently be shifted in a sidewise direction by subsequent
sideward-directed vacuum ducts. Those capsules which are arranged
caps-up are not affected by the air jets because of the gauging
block which prevents substantial tilting movement; the cap portions
of these capsules are then drawn sidewise by a sidewardly-directed
vacuum. The gauging assembly defines a passageway extending in the
direction of conveyor movement and comprises a ceiling member and
contiguous sidewall member. One side of the passageway is defined
by edge portions of the longitudinally oriented pocket portions
which are provided in the rotary conveyor. The ceiling member and
contiguous sidewall are mounted on a slidable bar which is disposed
transversely with respect to the rotary conveyor. The bar may be
slid back and forth transversely across the conveyor so as to
adjust the width of the passageway to more easily accommodate
different capsule sizes.
Inventors: |
Ackley, Sr.; Charles E.
(Oreland, PA), Ackley, Jr.; Charles E. (Philadelphia,
PA) |
Assignee: |
R. W. Hartnett Company
(Philadelphia, PA)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to February 8, 2000 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
26835646 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/463,972 |
Filed: |
February 4, 1983 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
137850 |
Apr 7, 1980 |
4372437 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/399;
198/397.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
29/00 (20130101); B41F 17/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41F
17/00 (20060101); B41F 17/36 (20060101); B65G
29/00 (20060101); B65G 047/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/380,384,397,400,393,836,399 ;101/40 ;221/156,171,173 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Valenza; Joseph E.
Assistant Examiner: Alexander; Daniel R.
Parent Case Text
INTRODUCTION
This is a division of application Ser. No. 137,850, filed Apr. 7,
1980, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,437.
Claims
We claim:
1. Transport apparatus for objects having body portions of
different dimensions relative to a common axis, including rotatable
carrier means for receiving said objects individually and
transporting said received individual objects along a predetermined
path and means adjacent said path for restraining selected ones of
said moving objects from moving in other than said transport
direction by interference with larger size body portions of said
objects but permitting others of said moving objects to move
additionally to the transport direction as all of said objects
continue moving in said transport direction by free passage of
smaller size body portions of said objects past said restraining
means, wherein said restraining means is adjustably moveable in a
direction other than said direction of transport, to alter the size
of objects restrained by shifting the area, in which said smaller
size body portions move freely past said restraining means,
transversely with respect to said transport direction, in a
direction parallel with the axis of rotation of said rotatable
carrier means.
2. Transport apparatus for objects having body portions of
different sizes arranged along substantially a common axis,
including rotatable carrier means for receiving and moving said
objects individually along a predetermined arcuate passageway path
and gauging means laterally bounding said path of movement thereby
defining said passageway with said rotatable carrier means, width
of said passageway being adjustable to maintain those of said
objects whose body portions exceed a predetermined size in a
predetermined attitude by contact therewith as all of said objects
are transported along said passageway by said carrier means whereby
all of said objects whose body portions exceed said predetermined
size are aligned in substantially a common direction, said gauging
means including an adjustably moveable arcuate gauging member
positioned along the path defining an object transport direction of
said apparatus, said gauging member extending along said transport
direction to form a side of said passageway for said objects, and
being moveable transversely to the path of movement, in a direction
parallel with the axis of rotation of said rotatable carrier means,
to adjust passageway width and thereby alter said predetermined
size.
3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein movement of said gauging means
shifts said passageway transversely with respect to said path.
4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein movement of said moveable portion
of said gauging means shifts the centerline of said passageway
transversely with respect to said path.
Description
This invention relates to an improved gauging assembly for use in
conjunction with capsule orienting and turning devices such as
those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,966 (Ackley et al), the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Marking machines of various types have been used commercially for
marking indicia on a multiplicity of objects all of which have
essentially the same size and shape. For example, machines have
been successfully used for applying to relatively small articles
such as pharmaceutical capsules, pellets, pills and the like,
markings such as alphabetical letters, manufacturer's trademarks or
other characterizing symbols for the purpose of ready
identification. However, in most commercial procedures,
particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, one of the primary
objects of marking has been to prevent counterfeiting of products
and of materials contained therein. In order to achieve this
purpose, it has been highly desirable to apply an extremely
accurate marking, having such a finely detailed character that
counterfeiting is difficult or virtually impossible.
In certain of the machines now utilized commercially, the capsules
are all first oriented in predetermined fashion with the cap
portions of the capsules facing a given direction, and the bodies
facing the opposite direction. In this manner, as the oriented
capsules are passed beneath the print imparting rolls of a suitable
printing mechanism, they can be uniformly printed in desired
manner, e.g., such as on the capsule cap portion or on the body
portion. Devices of this general type, in which orientation of the
capsules is achieved, are commonly referred to as rectification
machines.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
The Ackley U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,292 discloses an article marking
machine wherein the individual objects to be printed upon are
randomly arranged in a hopper, moved along a conveyor belt, and
printed with extreme fineness and accuracy on one or both sides of
the objects while holding the objects completely stationary in
carriers which are specifically designed for the purpose.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,295 to Ackley discloses a capsule orienting and
turning apparatus and method of the type which is capable of
accepting a multiplicity of capsules arranged at random in a
hopper, and tilting and orienting the capsules so that they are
rectified. This Ackley patent includes a positive flow of air which
first tilts the bodies-up capsules in the machine direction, and a
cross-wise air flow which subsequently swings all the cap portions
of all of the capsules in a sideward direction with respect to the
direction of their movement. Those capsules which were initially
positioned with the caps up are not tilted in the machine direction
by the first current, because they are prevented from doing so by
critically spaced stop means positioned immediately adjacent to
their path of movement at the point where the air pressure is
applied.
It has been found that in the use of a machine having pockets for a
plurality of adjacent rows of capaules, problems arise in the
operation of machines and methods of the prior art. The
unrestricted flow of air, producing air currents and eddy currents,
which flow to neighboring capsule rows on one side or even to both
sides, tends to interfere with the reliability of operation in the
adjacent or neighboring rows of capsules, thus producing
malfunctions from place to place. A gauging block is highly
instrumental in establishing and maintaining a particularly high
degree of reliability in the initial capsule handling functions of
the apparatus. The apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,104,966 (Ackley et al) utilizes such gauging structure.
Although the device disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
4,104,966 (Ackley et al) has proved tremendously successful in the
efficient and high-speed rectification and printing of capsules,
the gauging structure thereof must be removed and replaced with
differently dimensioned gauging structure when capsules of
different size are to be processed. Replacement of existing gauging
structure with altogether new or remachined gauging structure is
not only expensive, but results in considerable machine "down time"
and resulting production inefficiencies.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an
improved automatic machine which can accept for mass production
large numbers of capsules which are arranged completely at random
in a container such as a feed hopper for example, and which can
sort out and orient the capsules with the aid of a gauging block
assembly so that the capsules are spaced apart uniformly from each
other and so that they can be "rectified" or "oriented", both of
which terms as used in connection with this invention means
arranging all of the cap portions toward one side of the
predetermined path of movement of the capsules, and arranged all of
the body portions toward the other side of such path.
It is a specific object of this invention to provide an apparatus
of the general type disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,966
(Ackley et al) patent, but wherein the gauging structure therein is
significantly improved by the provision of a mechanism which
automatically adjusts the width dimension of the gauging passageway
so that capsules of different size may be processed thereon,
without undue delay and/or the replacement or reconstruction of the
existing gauging assembly.
Other objects and advantages of this invention, including the
simplicity and economy of the same, and the ease with which it may
be adapted to the high speed mass production of wrap-around printed
capsules, will readily become apparent hereinafter and in the
drawings.
DRAWINGS
Of the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through a
machine embodying features of this invention;
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary face view of a portion of the cylinder
appearing in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the
apparatus of FIG. 1, as encompassed within the arrowed circle 2
which appears in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a subsequent step in
the operation of this portion of the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view taken as indicated by the
lines and arrows 4--4 which appear in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and
arrows 5--5 which appear in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a surface arcuate view taken along the surface of the
cylinder appearing in FIG. 5, and taken as indicated by the lines
and arrows 6--6 which appear in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6 the drawing shows
successive pockets selected for illustration of the sequence of
events that occurs in the operation of the apparatus, in
conjunction with a capsule which is presented with the capsule body
portion in its "up" position;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken as indicated by the
lines and arrows 7--7, 8--8 and 9--9, respectively;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and
arrows 10--10 which appear in FIG. 4, and illustrating successive
positions of capsules which are assumed to have been presented
initially with the capsule cap portion "up", in order to illustrate
the successive operations which are performed on a capsule which is
initially so presented;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and
arrows 11--11 which appear in FIG. 10. Again, in FIG. 11,
successive pocket positions are shown in order to illustrate
operations which occur upon a capsule which is initially presented
with the cap portion in its "up" position;
FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are sectional views taken as indicated by the
lines and arrows 12--12, 13--13 and 14--14, respectively;
FIG. 15 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view through a
vacuum transfer roller which comprises one component of the
apparatus appearing in FIG. 1, and is taken as indicated by the
lines and arrows 15--15 which appear in FIG. 1;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the
lines and arrows 16--16 which appear in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of the mechanism for automatically adjusting the width dimension of
the gauging passageway in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the gauging passageway width
adjustment mechanism shown in FIG. 17; and
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a gauging block in accordance with
the invention.
In the specification which follows, specific terms will be used for
the sake of clarity, and as descriptions of the specific forms of
the invention which have been selected for illustration in the
drawings. However, the use of such specific terms, and the use of
such specific embodiments in the drawings, is not intended to imply
any limitations with respect to the scope of the invention which is
defined in the claims.
Turning to FIG. 1, the number 20 designates a capsule carrying
hopper which is mounted on a suitable support (not shown), above a
portion of a rotatable cylinder 21 which is mounted for rotation
about an axle 22. A motor (not shown) is provided for rotating the
cylinder 21. The hopper 20 has an opening as indicated at 23 for
delivery of capsules to a plurality of equally spaced, generally
elongated cavities 24 which are formed in and extend in rows across
the outer surface of the rotatable cylinder 21. It will be observed
that the capsule cavities have elongated portions which extend in a
generally radial direction, as will be described in more specific
detail hereinafter, allowing the capsules to be received by the
cylinder 21 in generally radial positions. As will become apparent
in further detail hereinafter, some of the capsules naturally fall
into the cavities 24 in an upright position, with the body portions
above the cap portions, while other capsules fall naturally into
the cavities 24 in an inverted position, with the cap portions
above the body portions.
Turning to the uppermost portion of the cylinder 21, the number 30
designates a rotating brush which serves to straighten out any
capsules that may be lying in an angular position, as opposed to
the upright position illustrated in FIG. 1. Just downstream of the
brush 30 (in the direction D) is a further device, as shown within
the circled arrow 2, which further serves to position the capsules
in an upright position within their pockets 24.
As shown in FIG. 1, and in particular detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, a
cross-bar 17 is provided, carrying a plurality of flexible plastic
strips 18, the lower tip ends of which are free, and which are
arranged to contact the surface of the cylinder 21. It will be
appreciated in FIGS. 2 and 3 that with either the cap portion C in
its up position, or the body portion B in its up position, the
plastic strip 18 contacts the capsule and urges it in the direction
indicated by the curved arrows appearing in FIGS. 2 and 3, into
upright positions within the pockets 24.
Means are provided for urging the capsules in a sideward direction,
in order to maintain them in an upright position, and to prevent
them from tilting sidewardly as they are fed in the upper portion
of the cylinder 21. Such means appear in particular detail in FIG.
1A. It will be observed in FIG. 1A that the cavities 24 are
arranged in rows extending longitudinally in the machine direction,
and also that a plurality of separate, spaced-apart, substantially
parallel rows are provided. Extending along each such row is a
groove in which is positioned an elongated guide wire 19. The guide
wires 19 are parallel to each other, and are positioned in a manner
to restrain sidewardly directed tilting movement of the upper
portions of the capsules. The guide wires 19 pass around
approximately 1/3 of the upper portion of the cylinder 21, as shown
in FIG. 1 and are attached to a bar 19' located upstream of the
hopper 20. (In this specification the expressions "upstream" and
"downstream" are used with reference to the machine direction D
appearing in FIG. 1). Accordingly, the wires 19 extend completely
underneath the hopper 20, underneath the brush 30, underneath and
to one side of the individual fingers 18, and have a downstream
termination at the upstream portion of the gauging blocks 27, which
will be described in further detail hereinafter.
The number 25 designates a plurality of longitudinally directed air
jets which are arranged to provide blasts of air in a direction
generally along the direction D in which the rotatable cylinder 21
is rotating. The number 26 designates vacuum ducts having elongated
openings, which are arranged to draw air substantially crosswise of
the machine, and which effectively draw certain capsules in a
crosswise direction, as appears in FIG. 1, and as will be described
in further detail hereinafter.
The number 27 designates a novel gauging block, the details of
which will be described in further particularity hereinafter. The
gauging block 27 serves to prevent substantial tilting movement, in
the direction D, of those capsules which are arranged caps-up in
their pockets 24, but to permit such movement of those capsules
which are arranged bodies-up, under the influence of air from the
jets 25. Gauging block 27 also assures that those capsules which
have tilted to a substantially tangential arrangement will be
retained in such condition as they continue to move downwardly in
the direction D.
The number 28 designates a guide block for the capsules. It is
shown as carrying an air inlet 29 for secondary air, which coacts
with the vacuum ducts 26 as will be further described. Guide block
28 retains all capsules in position within their pockets, at the
lower portion of the cylinder 21, as the capsules continue to move
in the direction D.
Located directly beneath the cylinder 21 is a transfer cylinder 31
having a plurality of pockets 32, and an axle 33 about which the
transfer cylinder 31 rotates. The pockets 32 are shaped, spaced and
arranged to receive capsules transferred from the pockets of
cylinder 21. This transfer is assisted by a stationary vacuum shoe
34 which, as shown, extends approximately 180.degree. around the
periphery of the transfer cylinder 31. A vacuum connection 35 is
provided for the purpose of drawing vacuum upon the capsules in the
pockets 32, by way of openings 36 at the bottoms of the pockets 32.
The transfer cylinder 32 is provided with at least a pair of
grooves 37, spaced axially from each other, and located adjacent
each of the ends of the transfer cylinder 31. A pair of extensible
flexible members, shown as chain 38 in FIG. 1, are positioned in
each of these grooves and stretched around an idler shaft 41. The
chains 38 are positioned in a manner to pry the capsules C out of
the pockets 32 at the bottom of their path of movement on the
transfer cylinder 31, so that they move downwardly onto
corresponding pockets 42 in a conveyor 43. The chain 38 is
preferably an electrically conducting, extensible chain, which can
be stretched around the idler shaft 41, and which is grounded to
the idler shaft 41 and/or to the transfer cylinder 31, in a manner
to discharge static electricity.
The number 50 designates an optional blasting means for separating
the cap and the body portion to a limited degree in order to
provide an exact overall length for each capsule, preparatory to
the spin printing operation. This air separator is the subject of a
separate U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,900, and is not itself a part of the
invention claimed herein. The number 51 generically designates an
offset printing apparatus which is ideally adapted for wrap-around
printing in accordance with this invention. It includes an ink
reservoir 52, a transfer roll 53, and a printing roll 54 which is
continuously rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow
thereon, in contact with the capsules as they move underneath the
roll 54, carried by their carriers 42 on the conveyor 43. In the
spin printing process, one or more elongated forms of indicia are
preferably printed on the outer surface of the capsule by adjusting
the speed of rotation of the roll 54 so that its surface speed is
considerably greater than the speed of movement of the conveyor 43.
Preferably capsule carrier 42 is composed of a slippery material
such as polytetrafluorcethylene for example, which has a
coefficient of friction which is less than that of the printing
roll, thus permitting the capsule to rotate freely upon its axis
under the frictional influence of the printing roll 54 during the
spin printing process.
It will be appreciated that the capsule orienting apparatus of this
invention is useful independently of the devices 50 and/or 51, and
that the capsule orienting features of this invention may be used
for purposes other than spin printing. For example, in view of the
ever present possibility of imperfections occurring during the
manufacture of the caps or bodies of the capsules, or of the
assembled capsules, and in view of the danger of breakage or damage
to the capsules in handling or in delivery, it is important to
provide a capsule inspection station prior to the time that the
capsules are filled with the drug or other substance which thay are
intended to contain. For the purpose of automatic capsule
inspection, utilizing one or a plurality of production line capsule
scanning devices or the like, it is important and advantageous to
conduct the capsules at high speed along a conveyor in an oriented
condition, with all of the cap portions arranged toward one side of
the conveyor and with all of the body portions arranged toward the
opposite side of the conveyor. Other capsule handling operations
are also facilitated by providing the capsules in the oriented
condition referred to herein.
Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, 10 and 11 of the drawings, it will be
apparent that each capsule cavity 24 includes a generally radially
directed pocket portion 60, a generally longitudinally directed
portion 61 and a generally transversely directed portion 62. The
pocket portion 60 is connected, by walls having a surface curvature
shown at 63, to the longitudinal portion 61, and by walls having
surface curvature 64 to transverse portion 62. Another wall having
a curved surface portion 65 provides a connection from longitudinal
pocket portion 61 to transverse pocket portion 62.
A typical capsule is shown in FIG. 5 in its upright position, in
which the body portion B is located above the cap portion C. FIG. 5
has been specially prepared to show the sequence of operations that
are applied to a capsule which is initially retained in its pocket
in a body-up position. It will be understood, in the normal
operation of the apparatus, each capsule is introduced into each
body portion completely at random, with some of the capsules in a
bodies-up position and with others of the capsules randomly
arranged in caps-up positions. However, the capsules have been
illustrated in FIG. 5 as though all of them had initially been
presented in a bodies-up position, in order more clearly to
illustrate the manipulated steps that are applied to the
capsules.
It will be appreciated that the longitudinally directed air jets 25
in FIG. 5 impinge upon the body portions B.sub.y in the manner
shown therein, and tilt them about the curved surface 63 to the
position illustrated as position B in FIG. 5, in which the capsules
are arranged with their axes in substantially the machine
direction. It will further be appreciated from FIGS. 5-9 that the
transverse vacuum means 26 draws upon the cap portions C.sub.p and
slides them around the curved portions 65, moving the capsules into
the positions illustrated as position "C" in the drawings.
Turning now to FIGS. 10-14 of the drawings, each capsule is there
shown as though initially in its inverted position, with each cap
C.sub.p above the body portion B.sub.y. The longitudinally directed
air jet 25 impinges upon the cap portion C.sub.p as shown in FIG.
10, but the cap portion C.sub.p is prevented from swinging into
position "B" by the novel gauging block 27, details of which will
appear further hereinafter. The width of the gauging block channel
is set at a predetermined distance greater than the diameter of
capsule body portion B.sub.y but less than the diameter of capsule
cap portion C.sub.p. Subsequently, the transversely directed vacuum
means 26 swings each capsule around the curved surface 64 which
appears in FIG. 14 moving the cap portion toward the same side of
the machine as the cap portions of the capsules that were
originally in their upright positions. Thus, in this manner, all of
the capsules are "oriented" which, in accordance with this
invention, means that all caps of the capsules are arranged toward
one side with respect to the machine direction and all of the body
portions of the capsules are arranged toward the other side with
respect to the machine direction.
It will now be apparent that, with all of the capsules thus
oriented, they move downwardly around the periphery of the
rotatable cylinder 21 maintained within their pockets in an
oriented condition by the guide block 28, and are deposited under
the influence of gravity onto the carriers 32 of the transfer roll
31. They are subsequently deposited on carriers 42 of conveyor 43
and are subjected to printing of a wrap-around type, the printing
rolls 54 being driven at a greater peripheral velocity than the
velocity of movement of the conveyor 43 and the carriers 42 being
recessed at 44 (FIG. 15) to avoid smearing of the printed
indicia.
In accordance with this invention a novel gauging block means,
comprehensively identified by the number 27, is provided adjacent
to the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 1. Turning more particularly to
FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, structural details of the gauging
block means 27 will further become apparent. It will be appreciated
from an examination of FIGS. 1A and 4 that the cylinder 21 contains
a multiplicity of rows of the pockets or carriers 24, and that each
such row has a multiplicity of pockets spaced apart from one
another along the machine direction, and that the pockets of each
row are moving parallel to each other in the direction D. As shown
in FIG. 4, each row of pockets 24 is provided with an individual
air jet 25, each blasting an individual jet of air J upon the
capsules contained within the carrier 24 of that row. It is
important in accordance with this invention that a plurality of
gauging blocks 27 are also provided, each gauging block being
specifically arranged adjacent to each such row of capsule carrying
pockets 24. As shown in FIG. 4 a cross strap 70 is provided, having
spaced bolts 71, securing each individual gauging block 27 in
position immediately adjacent to its corresponding row of capsule
carriers 24.
As shown in FIG. 4, each gauging block 27 comprises two individual
metal strips 72 and 73. These are tightly held together and are
immovable with respect to each other. It is preferable that the
gauging block 27 be an integral structure.
As is shown in FIG. 5, gauging block strip 72 has a generally
arcuate configuration and extends down from the cross strap 70 to a
location substantially immediately adjacent to the outer periphery
of the rotatable cylinder 21, as indicated by the lowermost surface
75 of gauging block strip 72. By way of contrast, the inner surface
76 of gauging block strip 73 has a cut-out portion indicated by the
number 77 forming an air entrance 78 shielded by the gauging block
strip 72. Thus, air emanating from the air jet 25 isolated with
respect to the particular row of pockets 24, by the presence of an
outer gauging block strip wall 72. The innermost surface 80 of
middle gauging block strip 73 is spaced apart from the outer
periphery of rotatable cylinder 21 and is curved to provide a space
81 allowing for the tilting movement of those capsules which are
arranged with the body portions up. Such tilting movement appears
at 82 in FIG. 5. The aforementioned innermost surface 80 of middle
gauging block strip 73 has a first curved portion 83 and has a
further curved surface 84 which is spaced closely to the outer
periphery of rotatable cylinder 21. The curved surface 83
cooperates with the surface 84 to confine each capsule during its
tilting movement as illustrated at 82 in FIG. 5 and to confine such
capsule after the tilting movement has been completed, as indicated
at 85 in FIG. 5.
Further referring to FIG. 5, it will be observed that the cut-out
portion 77 provides a substantially radially extending wall against
which the air from the conduit 25 is projected. The angular
relationship of the wall 77 provides an air flow component as
indicated by the substantially radially directed arrow in FIG. 5,
which applies a portion of the air directly downwardly into the
pocket portions 60. This agitates each capsule within its pocket
portion and facilitates the tilting movement heretofore
described.
It will accordingly be further appreciated that the inner wall of
the outer gauging block strip 72 cooperates with the middle gauging
block strip 73 an edge portion 101 of longitudinal pocket portion
61 (FIG. 6) to form a channel extending longitudinally along the
row of carriers 24, such channel appearing at 86 in FIGS. 7, 8, 12
and 13, isolating the flow of air from neighboring rows. This is an
important and advantageous feature of this invention, because the
capsules which are carried in the pockets 24 are very light in
weight, and are easily affected by air flow or air currents. By
shielding each row of pockets from rows adjacent thereto to isolate
the air flow to a longitudinal direction in each particular row,
and by preventing stray currents or eddy currents from developing
which might affect the capsules in neighboring rows, precision
operation is achieved.
The rows of pockets are also shielded from each other at the
transverse vacuum means 26 by intervening guide blocks 28 to
prevent any currents from being transmitted from one row to rows
adjacent thereto.
It will be apparent, from a close examination of FIGS. 7 to 9 and
FIGS. 12 to 14, that the width of the gauging block passageway
defined by distance between edge 101 of pocket 61 and the interior
edge of gauging strip 73, is critically important. As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8, the width of the gauging block passageway 86 is
slightly wider than the diameter of the body portion B.sub.y of the
capsule, thus permitting the forward tilting movement of the
capsule as shown in FIG. 7. Such forward tilting movement also
appears in FIG. 5, at positions 82 and 85. By way of contrast,
referring particularly to FIGS. 12 and 13, this width dimension of
the gauging block passageway 86 is slightly less than the diameter
of the cap portion C of the capsule, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the
cap portion C.sub.p in FIG. 12 is gripped or pinched between
sidewall gauging strip 72 and edge portion 101 of longitudinal
pocket portion 61. This pinching or gripping movement prevents any
forward tilting of the cap portion C.sub.p under the influence of
the air jet 25. The rear wall portion 87 of the radially directed
pocket portions 60 drives the cap portion C.sub.p through the
channel 86 (see FIGS. 11, 12 and 13) against the resistance created
by the restricted width of the channel 86. Accordingly, the cap
portion C.sub.p is shown in the same position in FIG. 13 as it is
in FIG. 12.
In accordance with this invention, a vacuum means is provided for
swinging the cap ends of the capsules all in the same direction,
and leaving the body portions of the capsules extending in the
opposite direction. This novel means includes the vacuum means 26
and the guide block 28 associated therewith, including further
parts and structural details as will now be described with
particularity. In lieu of the vacuum means herein shown, it may be
desirable to substitute therefor a pivotal vacuum manifold and
associated capsule guide means of the type shown in application
Ser. No. 905,742, filed May 15, 1978, of common assignment
herewith.
With particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, it will be apparent
that those capsules which were originally arranged with the body
portions up as shown in FIG. 5, have all tilted and are shown
arranged in the longitudinal pocket portion 61, in that figure,
after passing through the gauging blocks 27. It will further be
appreciated that in FIG. 10 the capsules which have been initially
arranged with their cap portions up, in the radially directed
pocket portion 60, have not been tilted and have been driven
through the restricted channel 86 by the driving force of the rear
wall 87 of the radially directed pocket portion 60, and continue in
an upright position in the radially directed pocket portion 60 at
the time of exiting from the gauging block 27.
As is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, the vacuum source 26 is connected
to a plurality of hollow, flat vacuum plates 90 each having an
elongated slit opening 91 at its end. The plates 90 are
conveniently supported upon the guide block 28 which is suitably
secured to the frame of the machine or to any other suitable
stationary support. It will be apparent in FIG. 4 that the guide
blocks 28 are spaced apart from each other, with each guide block
in a position corresponding to each longitudinal row of carriers 24
as they move in the machine direction. It will further be
appreciated that each vacuum plate 90 is positioned at one side of
the corresponding guide block 28, and that a source of secondary
air such as an air pipe 29 is provided on the opposite side of the
same individual guide block 28. It will be apparent in FIG. 5 and
in FIG. 10 that the pipe 29 has an opening 92 which extends in an
upstream direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5, admitting
secondary air in the area immediately adjacent to the peripheral
surface of rotatable cylinder 21. Further, it will be appreciated
that the guide block 28 has an inner surface which is spaced
closely to the outer periphery of the rotatable cylinder 21,
providing an air gap between them, through which air may flow
sidewise across the row of carriers 24. Similarly, it will be
appreciated that the slit 90 in the flat vacuum plate 90, for each
row, is located across the row in a position opposite to the
opening 92, thus providing for a flow of air to be drawn by the
vacuum, crosswise across the row 24, as indicated by the arrows
appearing in FIG. 4. It will be apparent that this crosswise flow
of air induces the longitudinally-positioned capsules of FIG. 5 to
shift to a transverse position, as indicated by the arrow at
capsule position 93 in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, all capsule
positions subsequent to the vacuum slit 91, in the machine
direction D, are transversely arranged with the cap portions
C.sub.p toward one side and with the body portions B.sub.y on the
other side.
Similarly, with reference to FIG. 10, the capsules with the cap
portions C.sub.p upwardly arranged in the radially directed pocket
portions 60, are also affected by the vacuum which is drawn in the
manner heretofore described, drawing the cap portions toward the
same side, as illustrated at position 94 in FIG. 10 of the
drawings. It will further be appreciated that all of the capsules
are arranged with the body portions in the same direction, at all
locations in the downstream direction as indicated by the arrow D
downstream of the vacuum slit 91.
It is important to observe in accordance with this invention that
the operation of the vacuum, drawn as heretofore described, is
substantially isolated with respect to each of the rows of capsule
carriers 24. This is effected by the presence of the intervening
guide block strips 73, 72 which minimize currents from being
transmitted from one row to its adjacent or neighboring rows. This
is important and advantageous, because of the fact that the
capsules are very light in weight and are very susceptible to
mis-direction under the influence of stray currents, or eddy
currents.
The combination of drawing a vacuum through the slit 91, together
with the secondary air which is directed in an upstream manner
through the opening 92, is important and advantageous. The
secondary air stream 92 agitates each individual capsule within its
pocket, providing it in substantially a state of suspension in
which it is readily susceptible to the influence of the air which
is drawn crosswise of the machine direction, by the vacuum slit
91.
The operation of the vacuum slits 91 appears in further detail in
FIGS. 9 and 14 of the drawings. In FIG. 9, it is clearly shown that
the capsules in which the body portions were initially in upward
position are now being drawn around the curved surface extending
between the longitudinal pocket portion and the transverse pocket
portion, in the manner indicated by the arrows at the lower portion
of FIG. 6. Similarly, in FIG. 14, the capsules are shown in the
same position, with the cap portions C.sub.p extending in the same
direction as the cap portions C.sub.p in FIG. 9, having been swung
from the substantially radially directed pocket portion into the
transversely directed pocket portion of each carrier, all as shown
in the lower portion of FIG. 11.
Another important and advantageous mechanism in accordance with
this invention appears particularly in FIGS. 1, 15 and 16 of the
drawings. As will be apparent, the capsules discharged from the
bottom of the cylinder 21, as shown in FIG. 1, are deposited into
transversely arranged capsule carrying pockets 32 which are
maintained on the surface of the transfer cylinder 31. As appears
in detail in FIGS. 15 and 16, this transfer is effected by a vacuum
applied through the vacuum line 35, which is connected into a
vacuum shoe 93 having a semi-circular vacuum passage 34. The shoe
93 and the passage 34 are maintained stationary, as shown in FIG.
15. The passage 34 in the vacuum shoe 93 is open toward the
cylinder 31, and shoe 93 is urged immediately adjacent to the end
of cylinder 31 by springs 99. Cylinder 31 includes an inner
cylinder 94' providing a vacuum space 95 communicating with the
space 34 as the cylinder 31 rotates through the 180.degree. are
where the space 34 is present. Thus, during the arc, a vacuum is
exerted upon the capsule pockets 24, through the space 95 and
through openings 36 which extend from the spaces 95 to the capsule
pockets 32. Accordingly, the vacuum, drawn through the connection
35, is applied to the capsules at the bottom of cylinder 21, and
draws those capsules into the corresponding pockets 32. Further,
the capsules are maintained in the pockets 32 during the entire
180.degree. path of their travel downwardly to the conveyor 43, in
this manner.
As is shown in FIG. 15, a multiplicity of slots 37 are provided in
the periphery of the cylinder 31, for a multiplicity of spaced
parallel expandable springs 38, 38, two for each row of pockets 24.
As appears in FIG. 1, these springs separate from the periphery of
the cylinder 31 in a manner to pry the capsules out of their
pockets 32, and to deposit them onto corresponding pockets 42 on
the conveyor 43. In this manner, the springs 38, 38 (which are
spaced apart from each other at a distance less than the total
length of the capsule) overcome the adhering effect of static
electricity. Further, because of the fact that they are preferably
electrically conductive and are connected to ground through the
member 40, or through the cylinder 31 itself, or both, the capsules
themselves are effectively grounded by reason of their contact with
the springs 38, thus facilitating their handling without the
disturbing effects of static electricity.
Turning consideration now, to FIGS. 17 and 18, there is shown the
novel means for adjusting the width of the gauging passageway 86
(FIGS. 8, 12, 13). As is apparent from FIGS. 8, 12 and 13, the
width of the gauging passageway 86 is determined by the distance
between edge 101 of longitudinal pocket portion 61 and the interior
edge of sidewall gauging strip member 72. One end portion of cross
strap 70 is provided with threaded bore 103. The cross stap 70 is
slidably fastened to side frame member 105 by means of an
elliptically formed slot 107 and nut 109 (FIG. 18). A threaded
calibration screw 111 is received in threaded bore 103 and is held
between prongs 113, 115 of straddle 117 which is fixed to side
frame 105 by bolts 119, 121. Accordingly, it is apparent that
rotation of the calibration screw 111 is transmitted into linear,
sliding motion of the cross strap 70. As rotatable cylinder 21 is
mounted on axle 22, one end of which is journalled in side frame
105 and the other end being journalled in an opposite side frame
(not shown) the sliding movement of the cross strap 70, carrying
gauging strips 72, 73 allows adjustment of the distance between
edge portion 101 of longitudinal pocket portion 61 (FIGS. 8, 12,
13) and the interior edge of sidewall strip member 72 so that the
width of the gauging channel may be varied as desired to
accommodate different capsule sizes.
FIG. 19 depicts the gauging block 27 per se. Gauging block 27
comprises integrally formed strips 72, 73. As shown, strip 72 forms
a side wall of the gauging passageway 86 (FIGS. 8, 12, 13) with the
ceiling of the passageway being defined by the inner surface 80 of
strip 73 having first curved portion 83 and a second (downstream)
curved portion 84. Groove 123 is formed transversely in the
rearward portion of the gauging block 27 to accommodate mating of
the cross strap 70 and block 27.
It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the apparatus in the
manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 16, with the transfer roll interposed
between the cylinder 21 and the conveyor 43, provides a
particularly compact arrangement wherein the members 50 and 51,
together with necessary driving motors and vacuum equipment, may be
compactly arranged and positioned with respect to each other.
Alternatively or in conjunction with the members 50 and 51, various
scanners or other inspection devices may be compactly incorporated
into the apparatus, because of the nature of this construction and
arrangement.
The efficiency, speed and certainty of operation of the apparatus
are greatly enhanced by the novel gauging block structure
heretofore described, by the novel sidewardly directed vacuum means
26, by the isolation of individual rows of capsule carrying pockets
from each other when under the influence of air or of vacuum, and
the shifting effect of the electrically conductive chains 38, all
in a manner to provide rapid, efficient and entirely correct
sorting and delivery operations, without crushing, damaging or
destroying the capsules as they are being handled, and with
complete accuracy and correctness of orientation.
Although this invention has been described in conjunction with
certain specific forms and certain modifications thereof, it will
be appreciated that a wide variety of other modifications can be
made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For
example, some of the features of the invention may be used
independently of other features. Indeed, the capsule orienting and
rectifying apparatus is capable of other uses independently of
wraparound printing, although it is admirably adapted for that
use.
Additionally, in accordance with this invention, various equivalent
elements may be substituted for those shown and specifically
described, and in many instances parts may be reversed in ways
which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, all without
departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined in
the appended claims.
* * * * *